The Colorado Mammoth (8-5) secured a playoff berth Friday night as the home team edged the Calgary Roughnecks (3-10) by a final of 9-8 in overtime at Pepsi Center.
Colorado is the first team in the West Division to punch its ticket to the postseason.
John Grant Jr. led scored the game-winning goal at 11:52 of the extra period. He led all offensive players with six points (5+1).
Calgary got off to an early lead in the opening frame, pulling out to a 3-0 lead before Garrett McIntosh took a double minor, setting up back-to-back Mammoth scores to make it 3-2 at the end of one. The two teams continued to duel close in a penalty-ridden first half, with Colorado’s Grant tying the game 4-4 shortly before halftime.
Curtis Dickson tallied Calgary’s two goals in the third to give the Riggers a one goal lead heading into the fourth. Joey Cupido netted a game-tying goal early in the final stanza to make it 6-6. Grant followed up with his fourth goal of the evening to give Colorado their first lead of the night. They would maintain that lead until 9 seconds remaining in regulation, when Dobbie tied the game on the nearside post.
In overtime the teams exchanged possessions and shots on net, until Grant fired home the sudden death goal to clinch a postseason spot.
It will be a quick turnaround for the teams as they hit the road to Calgary to wrap up the home-and-home series Saturday in Alberta at 9 p.m. ET.
